Failure to launch!

[Chrisp5782]

Okay - K-Series 1600 Roadsport.

Been running fine for the last couple of days.

Went for a long blat today and stopped at a pub for a drink.

Went to start the car and nothing, no starter click just a very faint clicking.

Car bump started so I'm thinking a dead battery (thought I might have left the fan on or something)

Thought the run home might put a bit of charge in but nothing.

Now, where to go from here? I'm going to check the battery voltage in the morning with a Fluke and get it on charge however, when I removed one of the caps the level is slightly low and the battery smells quite eggy. I'm thinking the battery is toast and probably won't take a charge.

The next port of call will be the alternator but I'm not sure how to test it's output - any takers?

I vaguely remember switching lights on with the engine running and watching to see if they get brighter as a basic test of charging but that might have been for a dynamo?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Grubbster]

Sounds like you have the K-Click! Sometimes this is cured by a simple mod that incorporates a little relay but sometimes it's a fubar'd starter solenoid. If you use the search facility on Techtalk on Blatchat you'll find lots on this.

[DVandrews]

Just measure the voltage at the battery terminals with the engine running at > 1000ROM, if it isn't > 13 volts the. The alternator is a duffer, if it is then the battery is a duffer.

Dave

[Chrisp5782]

Many thanks!!!

[Chrisp5782]

Many thanks!!!

[Mellow7]

Try to start it when it's cooled down - if it does it's probably the starter motor - same happened to me, I had to make sure I stopped for fuel on the way out rather than the way back as it meant a 30 minute wait sat being very unpopular at the pump...

[downsman]

From experience, check the voltage before fitting the new battery.
If you're getting much higher voltages, the regulator has failed and the alternator has cooked the battery. Fix this first or you'll soon be buying another battery

[Chrisp5782]

The plot thickens!!!! I've let everything cool down for a few hours, refitted the battery and tried the car again - no joy but now I have flashing four ways, plenty of clicks and whirring from the fuel injection and some pretty random rev counter needle swings!

The car runs fine if bumped, I'm fearing ECU trouble!!